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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tyler Weaver, Former EMT, on Hospital Closures and Ambulance Response Times
3:45:49
ยท
169 sec
Tyler Weaver, a former EMT, testified about the impact of hospital closures on ambulance response times, sharing a personal tragedy and highlighting disparities in response times across NYC boroughs. He emphasized the need for improved health resources in certain communities, particularly in the Bronx.
- Shared the story of his son's death due to long ambulance response times in the Bronx
- Presented data showing significant disparities in Advanced Life Support (ALS) response times between boroughs
- Called for the City Council to address EMS health equity through more equitable budget allocation or legislation
Tyler Weaver
3:45:49
Hello.
3:45:50
My name is Tyler Weaver.
3:45:51
I was an EMT for 6 years, and I'm here to discuss what effect hospital closures may have on ambulance response times, which are record highs.
3:46:00
These long response times tragically impacted by family in December when our adult son Nicolas Costello suffered a cardiac arrest in the Bronx and waited 20 minutes for an advanced life support paramedic staff unit.
3:46:12
The backup basic life support unit took 24 minutes.
3:46:16
He was taken to the ER, but he had already suffered major brain injury because his heart had been stopped for so long.
3:46:22
Due to this extensive brain damage, our son was taken off life support and pronounced dead the following day.
3:46:27
After my son died, I was so appalled at the long response time to his cardiac arrest that I investigated further.
3:46:36
Based on what I found, I will address 3 main points.
3:46:39
The disparity in ALS response times in different boroughs, more detailed of my son's case and the need for more health resources in in some communities.
3:46:48
Point number 1, Bronx ALS response times are much worse than other boroughs such as Manhattan.
3:46:54
According to official city data, only 22 percent of Bronx ALS responses in September arrived in less than 10 minutes.
3:47:02
That meant 2600 Bronx patients waited more than 10 minutes for an ALS ambulance.
3:47:08
In contrast, the same Manhattan data was much better at 42 percent, and Brooklyn was 48%.
3:47:14
This disparity has been going on for years and is only getting worse.
3:47:18
This is a health equity issue.
3:47:20
Part number 2, the ALS unit for my son was run by Saint Barnabas Hospital, but it came from 24 Blocks away.
3:47:28
The backup FDNY BLS unit was station 66 blocks away.
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This shows that hospital run ambulances are a crucial part of Citi EMS resources.
3:47:38
Point 3, Bronx ALS units are not resourced properly.
3:47:42
Showing there are urgent needs for improved health resources in certain communities.
3:47:47
If a nearby hospital is closed, ambulances would have even longer travel times.
UNKNOWN
3:47:52
Thank you.
3:47:53
Your time expired.
Tyler Weaver
3:47:55
Okay.
3:47:55
In closing, as hospital closures are contemplated, I call in the city council to enable EMS HealthEquity in all boroughs via more equitable budget allocation or by legislation.
3:48:09
Thank you for your time.
Mercedes Narcisse
3:48:11
Thank you.
3:48:11
I wanna find out if you're coming on Friday because at 10 AM, we're gonna have an interesting hearing for that to know what's going on with the ambulance services as a any EMS.
Tyler Weaver
3:48:21
Yeah.
3:48:22
Absolutely.
3:48:23
I am a signed up to come in via Zoom for that meeting as well.
Mercedes Narcisse
3:48:27
Thank you.
3:48:29
And if you cannot come, you can always send the testimony or do in a Zoom just like you just did.
Tyler Weaver
3:48:34
Okay.
3:48:35
Alright.
3:48:35
Yeah.
3:48:35
Okay.
3:48:35
I'm signed up for Zoom.
Mercedes Narcisse
3:48:36
Thank you.
Tyler Weaver
3:48:38
Thank you.